The Speakers Bureau at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine provides a variety of speakers to community groups for programs about medical information, medical careers or updates on the medical school.

“The medical school serves the community in many ways and presenting to clubs, organizations and schools is another opportunity for us to do that,” says Merle Shiffman, communications coordinator who directs the program. “Faculty and staff as well as many of our medical students and residents volunteer to participate, so we can offer programs on a variety of health, medicine and science topics.”

Possible topics are divided into wellness and prevention, specific disorders and diseases, special topics for men, women and seniors, and general topics like an overview of the SIU medical school. Recently scheduled speakers talked about women’s health news, stress reduction, healthy eating, medical school admissions, and updates on the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU and St. John’s Children’s Hospital, a joint partnership of St. John’s Hospital and SIU School of Medicine.

To arrange for a speaker as well as tours of the medical school, call the Office of Public Affairs at 217-545-5616 weekdays. You can also email Shiffman at mshiffman@siumed.edu or go online at www.siumed.edu/news/tours.htm. If possible, please provide 30 days to allow time to match requests.